Thermographic Eye Temperature as an Index to Body Temperature in Ponies

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a passive, remote, and noninvasive method of measuring surface temperatures. Select surface locations, such as the eye, could indicate body temperature. To investigate whether thermographic eye temperatures were associated with body temperatures and could be used to detect febrile ponies, we measured IRT eye temperatures, rectal temperatures, and implanted thermal microchip temperatures from 24 male ponies daily for 3 consecutive days. Information regarding distance of the pony from the IRT device, presence of direct sunlight during the measurement period, and ambient temperature were also collected. A multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that 60.41% of the variance in IRT was accounted for by rectal temperature, sunlight, and distance between the camera and the pony, with rectal temperature being the major contributor to variance (46.23%). Using a rectal temperature of >38.6°C (101.5°F) as the indicator of febrile status, sensitivity and specificity of the IRT device used to detect the febrile ponies were found to be 74.6% and 92.3%, respectively, when using the maximum IRT eye temperature per pony per day. In conclusion, IRT eye temperature could be a preliminary screening tool to determine whether a more time-consuming, labor-intensive, and invasive method (e.g., rectal temperature) is warranted for fever validation.     

氯甲基蛋氨酸对冷冻-束缚应激大鼠消化器官组织学结构的影响

为探讨氯甲基蛋氨酸对应激性胃溃疡的预防效果,制备了大鼠急性冷冻-束缚应激模型,通过观察冷冻-束缚应激所致大鼠消化系统器官的损伤性变化及氯甲基蛋氨酸对应激状态下大鼠消化器官组织结构的影响,判定氯甲基蛋氨酸对应激性胃溃疡的作用。结果表明,氯甲基蛋氨酸对大鼠冷冻-束缚应激性胃溃疡的消化系统器官具有明显的保护作用。     

Phenotypic plasticity induced using high ambient temperature during embryogenesis in domesticated zebrafish,Danio rerio

Ambient temperature during early stages of life has a substantial effect on physiological processes, eliciting phenotypic plasticity during zebrafish developmental stages. Zebrafish are known to possess a noteworthy ability to modify their phenotype in dependence of environmental factors. However, there is a poor understanding of the effects of temperature during embryogenesis, which influences the biological functions such as survival ability and masculinization in later developmental stages. Since the middle embryonic phase (pharyngula period) is genetically the most conserved stage in embryogenesis, it is very susceptible to embryonic lethality in developmental processes of vertebrates. Here, we tested the effect of transient perturbations (heat shock) during early development (5–24 hr post‐fertilization; hpf) at 35°C compared to control group at 28°C, on survival ability of zebrafish to study the embryonic and post‐embryonic mortality. We studied the variation of heat‐induced masculinization among and across the families in response to high temperature. Furthermore, morphometric traits of adult zebrafish at different developmental time points were measured in order to estimate the temperature × sex interaction effect. We found the highest embryonic mortality around the gastrula and segmentation periods in both experimental groups, with significantly lower survival ability in the temperature‐treated group (73.30% ± 0.58% vs. 70.19% ± 0.57%, respectively). A higher hatching success was observed in the control group (71.08% ± 0.61%) compared to the heat‐induced group (67.95% ± 0.60%). A distinct reduction in survival ability was also observed in both experimental groups during the first two weeks after hatching, followed by a reduced level of changes thereafter. We found sex ratio imbalances across all families, with 25.2% more males under temperature treatment. Our study on growth performance has shown a positive effect of increased temperature on growth plasticity, with a greater impact on female fish in response to high ambient temperature.     

Ascorbic acid ameliorates dysregulated folliculogenesis induced by mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in neonatal mouse ovaries via reducing ovarian oxidative stress

Phthalates, including di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), are common industrial chemicals in the environment. Recent evidence indicates that DEHP and its active metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) negatively modulate reproductive functions and induce reactive oxygen species. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a dietary requirement for primates, and it acts as a potent free radical scavenger to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In this study, to investigate the toxic effects of MEHP on the follicle development and the beneficial role of AA, neonatal mouse ovaries were treated with different concentrations of MEHP with or without AA for 6 days. Then, the follicle constitution and oxidative status were compared in different groups. Results showed MEHP accelerated primordial follicle recruitment by increasing the percentage of primary and secondary follicles and decreasing the percentage of primordial follicles in the ovaries. Moreover, MEHP-induced ovarian oxidative stress by significantly increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the expression of GSS and SOD1. When ovaries were co-administrated with MEHP and AA, follicle constitution was normalized, and the oxidative status was significantly decreased. These results suggested that AA ameliorated MEHP-induced ovarian oxidative stress and follicular dysregulation, which attested the clinical significance of AA for ovary protection in the case of MEHP exposure.     

干旱胁迫条件下不同饲用燕麦品种种子萌发指标比较与评价

本研究采用PEG-6000溶液模拟干旱胁迫条件,比较研究了26份饲草型燕麦(Avena sativa L.)种子的萌发特征,利用主成分分析法和隶属函数法进行了综合评价,为抗旱燕麦品种选育提供实验参考。结果表明,与CK相比,15% PEG浓度下,所有材料的发芽率、发芽势、芽长、根长、种子活力指数等指标均显著下降,不同品种之间差异显著。经主成分分析法筛选,发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数为燕麦种质耐旱性评价的主效指标。通过综合评价,'荟峰’、'三星’、'喜韵’为强抗旱品种;'梦龙’、'大富翁’为中等抗旱品种;'甜燕2号’、'挑战者’、'白燕7号’、'甜燕麦青海’、'甜燕70’、'牧乐思’、'进口甜燕’、'禾王’、'当地燕麦’、'莫尼卡’、'巴燕3号’、'燕麦克劳沃’、'甜燕麦’、'摄政王’、'青海444’为弱抗旱品种;'青牧’、'福燕1号’、'喜越’、'青甜1号’、'甜燕1号’、'shooter’为不抗旱品种。     

低温弱光对苗期紫花苜蓿根颈生理特性的影响

以秋眠级不同的2个紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa品种(巨人201和WL414)为试验材料,研究了其在低温(0~5℃和5~10℃)与弱光[50和100μmol/(m2.s)]互作处理条件下的生理响应。结果表明:紫花苜蓿根颈在低温弱光胁迫下启动了自身应激机制,对逆境胁迫做出了适应性反应,相同弱光条件下,低温0~5℃比5~10℃对根颈的影响显著,过氧化物酶活性上升幅度较小,而超氧化物歧化酶活性的下降和丙二醛含量的增加幅度均较大;相同低温处理,弱光50μmol/(m2.s)处理对根颈生理指标影响更为显著,过氧化物酶活性上升、超氧化物歧化酶活性下降和丙二醛含量增加幅度大于弱光100μmol/(m2.s)处理;巨人201各项指标的变化都优于WL414,表明巨人201抗寒耐弱光能力都可能优于WL414。     

Effect of N‐Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Intracellular Glutathione,Urine Isoprostanes,Clinical Score,and Survival in Hospitalized Ill Dogs

Background

Antioxidant depletion and lipid peroxidation have been correlated with disease severity and associated with poor outcomes.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Supplementing dogs with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) during the first 48 hours of hospitalization will increase cysteine, normalize glutathione concentrations, and decrease the degree of lipid peroxidation associated with illness.

Animals

Sixty systemically ill hospitalized client‐owned dogs and 14 healthy control dogs.

Methods

Randomized investigator‐blinded, placebo‐controlled prospective study. Dogs were randomized to treatment with NAC (n = 30) versus placebo (n = 30). Antioxidants, urine 8‐isoprostane/creatinine (IP/Cr), and clinical score were determined before and after treatment with NAC. Glutathione, cysteine, and vitamin E concentrations were quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Atomic absorption spectroscopy and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify selenium and isoprostane concentrations, respectively.

Results

Ill dogs had significantly lower vitamin E concentrations (27 versus 55 μg/mL; P = .0005) as well as elevated IP/Cr ratios (872 versus 399 pg/mg; P = .0007) versus healthy dogs. NAC supplementation significantly increased plasma cysteine (8.67 versus 15.1 μM; P < .0001) while maintaining glutathione concentrations. Dogs in the placebo group experienced a statistically significant decrease in glutathione concentrations (1.49 versus 1.44 mM; P = .0463). Illness severity and survival were unchanged after short duration NAC supplementation.

Conclusions

Ill dogs experience systemic oxidative stress. Supplementation with NAC during the first 48 hours of hospitalization stabilized erythrocyte glutathione concentrations. The clinical impact of this supplementation and glutathione concentration stabilization was undetermined.     

Effects of stress on endocrine and metabolic processes and redirection: cross talk between subcellular compartments

Recent advances in genome analysis and biochemical pathway mapping have advanced our understanding of how biological systems have evolved over time. Protein and DNA marker comparisons suggest that several of these systems are both ancient in origin but highly conserved into today's evolved species. However, remnants of some of the more ancient functions of these chemical systems can run in conflict with the functions that those same pathways serve in complex organisms and tissue systems today. Relevant to the present topic, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O₂^•−), ancient cellular molecules in evolutionary terms, are recognized today as both necessary for the well-being and stable health of cells but also injurious to cells as elaborated in conjunction with the cellular stress response. Why the dichotomy? This question underlies one of the basic issues challenging researchers as well as practitioners in their approach to disease management. The fundamental proinflammatory response of the innate immune system of the host is needed for pathogen control but can be injurious to tissues from “collateral damage” from NO- and O₂^•−-derived reactive molecules capable of affecting protein function via post-translational chemical modification. This review highlights newer aspects of the biochemistry of the NO- and O₂^•−-mediated innate proinflammatory response and further show how protein and tissue damage via overproduction of reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediary molecules such as peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) might be targeted to specific epitopes of proteins. Changes in the regulation of metabolism in response to proinflammatory disease states are discussed for GH signal transduction and tissue specificity.     

温度和时间对野桂花蜜淀粉酶值的影响

本实验以两种野桂花蜂蜜样品为实验材料,在不同温度和时间条件下处理,通过试管法测定蜂蜜中淀粉酶值。结果表明:随着温度的升高和处理时间的延长,蜂蜜中的淀粉酶值呈下降趋势。